Tobacco rack and truck.



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented 0st. 23, I900. F. GOBBIN.

TOBACCO BACK AND IRUCK.

(Application filed Apr. 17, 1900.)

(No Model.)

Emma t 1' nn! YHE NORRIS PETERS CO, PNGIOLITHDY. WAS

wwneoom No. 660,290. Patentedfict. 23,- I900.

F. consm. i TOBACCO BACK AND TRUCK.

(Application filed Apr. 17, 1900.) (No Model.) v 2 Shoet Sheet 2.

E! A Z 1E.l*I 87; Z I f. I g I] H I F; f I f 3 E5 B i L B g-' kg a? f {if 6 -3. 21 i Ig y I M. I f f E B V B BI//%E B a 70 -42 QMwLw/s @0. 9 15 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

FRANK OORBIN, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

TOBACCO RACK AND TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,290, dated October 23,- 1900.

Application filed April 17, 1900. Serial No. 13,237. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK OORBIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Tobacco Rack and Truck; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices used in drying and curing tobacco, and more particularly to a combined rack and truck for such purposes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive tobacco rack and truck combined which may be easily and quickly adjusted and secured in position for use in such manner as to occupy no more space than the necessities of the situation or the limited area of the room or inclosurc in which a number of such racks are placed may permit and which when not in use may be folded into a very small compass for storage or transportation.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and then pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, in which like letters of reference are used to denote corresponding parts in different views, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a tobacco rack and truck embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the device folded. Fig. 4. is a top or plan View showing the device open in position for use, and Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line IV IV of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by letters of reference, A A may denote a pair of uprights or standards, which form the supports for a series of horizontal rods or bars B B on which the tobacco-sticks are to rest, and A A a similar pair of uprights supporting a similar series of rods or bars B B, the said uprights and bars A and B, together with a horizontal roller-supported sill or runner O, forming one side of a preferably-rectangular frame, while the uprights and bars A B and a similar runwhich may be journaled in suitable hangers swiveled or otherwise suitably journaled on the under side of the runners O O, as shown.- In the form shown the uprights A and A are ,of wood and have their confronting sides recessed or mortised to receive the horizontal bars, so that when the parts are folded, as shown in Fig. 3, the confronting faces of the uprights may be brought close together with the horizontal bars confined and in a sense housed between the uprights, so as to economize in space. The horizontal bars may extend a suitable distance beyond the uprights at each end of the frame and. may have upright strips 17 I) attached thereto. The aforesaid side portions of the frame are connected together at or near their upper ends and also at or near their lower portions by adjustable tie rods or bars having a hinged or pivotal connection with said sides to permit the latter to be readily adjusted and'secured at any desired distance apart for economizing in space or as the necessities of the situation may suggest. Such tie rods or bars preferably extend diagonally across the frame from corner to corner thereof, crossing each other centrally, as shown, so as to connect the four corners of the frame at suitable points at or near its top and bottom. The upper set of tie-rods is denoted by the letter D and the lower set by the letter E. The rods D may consist of flat pieces or strips of wood having elongated slots 01 therein at or near their ends to receive fastening bolts or pins (if, by which they are pivotally and adjustably secured to the upper ends of the uprights or other suitable part of the side portions of the frame, and they may be united centrally by a swivel pin or bolt passing through both bars and having a nut screwed on its inserted end. The bars D are thus adapted to be opened and closed, as it were, after the manner of a pair of lazy-tongs, the bolts d being adapted to slide back and forth in the slots at as the side portions of the frame ferent adj ustments, while permitting inward or outward movement thereof, by making the rods E extensible, this being conveniently and economically accomplished by constructing said rods of telescopically-connected sec-, tions 6 e of gas-pipe, each section having one end swiveled or pivotally connected to one of the sills O or O or other suitable part of the frame and its inner end in telescopic connection with another section, the two parts being held in any desired position by set-screws c tapped into the larger pipe-section, so as to impinge against the smaller section inserted therein and lock their ends together.

When the device has been properly adjusted and positioned, it may be retained in such position by tightening the nuts on the bolts which secure the tie rods or bars D to the frame or uprights A and A and also the set-screws in the gas-pipe sections; but I preferably provide lateral braces F at one or both ends of the frame. These braces may consist of metallic or other suitable rods or bars each having an eye at one end engaging an eyebolt f on an upright or other part of the frame and a hook at its free end engaging an eyebolt or staple f on the opposite side of the frame, the said eyebolts or staples being so arranged that the braces may extend in an inclined position from one side of the frame to the other, crossing centrally, so as to firmly brace and support the structure against lateral pressure tending to force the sides of the frame toward or from each other. Two or more eyebolts may be provided to receive the hooked ends of the inclined braces at difierent elevations, so as to compensate forthe difference in width of the frame at different adjustments, or said eyebolts may be adj ustably secured to the frame in any approved manner.

I thus provide a very simple, efiicient, and inexpensive tobacco rack and truck combined, on which the sticks of tobacco may and supporting-stand ards therefor and a basepiece or runner with casters or rollers supporting the same, together with diagonallydisposed tie bars or rods adjustably connecting said sides at diagonally-opposite points at or near both the upper and the lower portions of the frame; said tie-bars having their ends pivotally secured to the sides of the frame, and means for adjusting and securing the tie-rods so as to adapt said sidesto be moved toward each other or spread apart and secured in a fixed position; substantially as described.

2. In a tobacco rack and truck, the combination with a series of horizontally-disposed bars and supporting-standards therefor and a roller-supported base-piece or runner at each side of the device, of tie bars or rods connecting said sides at diagonally-opposite points at or near both the upper and the lower portions thereof; the ends of said tie-bars being pivotally connected to said sides and means for adjusting and securing said tiebars so as to permit the sides of the device to be moved toward or from each other and maintained in different positions, or folded into compact form for storage or transportation, substantially as described.

3. In a tobacco rack and truck, the combination with a series of horizontally-disposed bars and supporting-standards therefor and a roller-supported base-piece or runner at each side of the device, of tie bars or rods connecting said sides at diagonally-opposite points at or near both the upper and the lower portions thereof; the ends of said tie-bars being pivotally connected to said sides, and means for adjusting and securing said tiebars so as to permit the sides of the device to be moved toward or from each other and maintained in difierent positions, or folded into compact form for storage or transportation, together with inclined braces at or near one or both ends, each of said braces having one end hinged or pivoted to one of said sides and the other end thereof detachably connected to the other side, substantially as described.

4. A tobacco rack and truck, comprisinga framework having a series of horizontally-disposed bars and supporting-standards therefor at each side of the frame, horizontally-dis posed sills or runners on-which said standards are mounted,casters or rollers supporting said standards, tie rods or bars connecting the side portions of the frame at diagonally-opposite points at or near both the upper and the lower ends thereof; one set of said tie-bars being formed in sections each of which is pivotally connected at one end to one side of the frame and has its free end telescopically connected with another similarly-disposed section; the other set of said tie-bars being pivotally connected together where they cross each other, and having elongated slots in the ends thereof to receive the fastening-bolts by which they are pivotally secured to the side portions of the frame, substantially as described.

5. A tobacco rack and truck, comprising a framework having a series of horizontally-disposed barsand supporting-standards therefor at each side of the frame, horizontally-disposed sills or runners on which said standards are mounted, casters or rollers supporting said standards, tie rods or bars connecting the side portions of the frame at diagonallyopposite points at or near the upper and the lower ends thereof; one set of said tiebars being formed in sections each of which is pivotally connected at one end to one side of the frame and has its free end telescopically connected with another similarlydisposed section; the other set of said tie-bars being pivotally connected together where they cross each other, and having elongated slots in the ends thereof to receive the fastening-bolts by which they are pivotally secured to the side portions of the frame, together with inclined braces at one or both ends of the frame; each brace having one end hinged or pivoted at one side of the frame and the other end thereof detachably connected with the opposite side of the frame, whereby the sides of the frame may be spread apart and maintained in the desired position for use,or folded into compact form for storage or transportation, substantially as described.

6. In a tobacco rack and truck, the rollersupported sills or runners, the uprights thereon and the horizontally disposed bars secured to said uprights, in combination with the sectional telescopically-connected extensible tie-rods, having their outer ends pivotally connected to said runners and means for binding their inner ends together; tie-bars extending diagonally across and connecting the four upper corners of the frame at diagonally-opposite points; said tie-bars having their intermediate portions pivotally connected together and having elongated slots in the ends thereof in which are slidingly fitted the fastening-bolts by which they are secured to the frame, substantially as described.

7. In a tobacco rack and truck, the roller= supported sills or runners, the uprights there'- on and the horizontally-dis posed bars secured to said uprights,- in combination with the sectional telescopically-connected extensible tierods having their outer ends pivotally connected to said runners and means for binding theirinner ends together; tie-bars extending diagonally across and connecting the four upper corners of the frame at diagonally-opposite points; said tie-bars having theirintermediate portions pivotally connected together, and having elongated slots in the ends thereof in which are slidingly fitted the fastening-bolts by which they are secured to the frame, together with inclined braces at one or both ends of the frame, each having an eye at one end engaging an eyebolt attached to one side of the frame, and a hook at its free end engaging an eyebolt at the opposite side of the frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK OORBIN.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR GIANNINI, S. E. HILL. 

